​The Perfect Whiskies For Winter

Winter can suck. There’s less daylight to energize you, freezing temperatures further zap you and when the skies unleash torrents of snow and harsh winds, it can be downright daunting. If ever there was a season to enjoy the soothing warmth of whiskey, this is it. We’ve rounded up the perfect whiskies to help you shake off the crummy winter doldrums. Single malt scotches, bourbons, even blended whiskey from Japan; we’ve got something for everyone, no matter what your palate prefers.

What makes a perfect winter whiskey? It’s got to work neat or in a cocktail, have a smooth and creamy taste, with just a hint of smoke, and it’s got to warm you from the inside as it slides down. The perfect viscosity is another vital component. A thin whiskey feels less complete, less enveloping and nourishing. It’s got to have the right body to fortify you to battle the cold and grey elements. Not all whiskies can rise to that challenge, but the 10 below absolutely do.

Johnnie Walker Select Casks Rye Finish

Johnnie Walker

It’s a: Blended Scotch Whiskey

The Johnnie Walker Select Casks Rye Finish has a lot of name and even more flavor. It starts smooth and creamy with plenty of vanilla and finishes with a spicy flourish. It’s been aged for ten years in American Oak casks before being finished in ex-rye casks for a complex, richer layer.

Balcones Baby Blue

Balcones

It’s a: Corn Whiskey from Texas

The Balcones Baby Blue Whisky is as unique as it is delicious. Made from blue corn, as the name alludes, this easy-going sipper eases you in with a hint of vanilla which fades leaving you with no dearth of corn flavors. You may pick up cornbread, cakes, or chips. That’s followed by a hint of caramel, and some other sweeter notes like berries or even cupcakes.

Bruichladdich: The Classic Laddie

Bruichladdich

It’s a: Single Malt Scotch from Islay

The Bruichladdich Classic Laddie is a Scottish single malt staple, albeit with one of the harder names to pronounce when ordering. (And no, “brook-laddie” isn’t correct.) The clean, fresh and robust teal bottle mirrors the liquid gold it holds. This whiskey isn’t super peat-y, despite it’s Islay origins, but there’s enough there to give you a tingle. There’s a solid balance of sea salt, honey and light orchard fruit which won’t disappoint.

Johnnie Walker Double Black

Johnnie Walker

It’s a: Blended Scotch Whiskey

If you like Johnnie Walker Black but wish it was slightly more intense, then Johnnie Walker Double Black is right up your alley. The master distillers at Johnnie Walker and Sons managed to instill a surprising level of peat smoke, mixed with hints of salty butter, custard and grains.Heavily charred casks give this extra toasted blend a hearty malty core which will accordingly toast you to yours.

Suntory Toki

suntory toki

It’s a: Blended Whiskey from Japan

Further proving that incredible whiskey distillers aren’t limited to Europe and the United States, Suntory Toki is a refreshing blend of the best of Japan’s whiskey distilleries: Hakushu, Yamazaki and Chita. Toki, which means “time” in Japanese, is a whiskey you can drink all night and never tire of. Very light, refreshing and clean, Toki’s simple fruit notes with hints of vanilla custard, toasted cereal and wood spice will keep you coming back for more.

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Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Hibiki

It’s a: Blended Whiskey from Japan

If Toki is delicious, then Hibiki Japanese Harmony is utterly sublime. This heavily-awarded whiskey deserves all of those accolades and many more. Aged for five years in five different casks, including American oak, the extremely delicate oak notes perfectly melds with floral surprises and sweet citrus and honey. The complex flavor is, as the name suggests, incredible harmonious and will make your palate sing.

Macallan Double Cask 12 Year

Macallan

It’s a: Single Malt Scotch from Speyside

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Year is so named for the dual casks in which maturation occurs. First there’s a new American oak which has been seasoned with sherry, and then it finishes in the standard European oak sherry casks for which Macallan is known. You’ll get heaps of sherry on the nose, and a creamy, citrus underpins the tasting notes, heightened by hints of coconut and caramelized banana. The vanilla finish brings it home nicely.

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon

Knob Creek

It’s a: Single Barrel Bourbon from Kentucky

Knob Creek is a widely known and recognized brand, for good reason. This Southern company cranks out a tasty product. The (rather affordable) Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon comes packed with robust flavors, including smoky vanilla, hints of caramel, nuts and oak. Despite a full body, it’s easy to drink all night, whether that’s neat, with a single cube or as the base of a cocktail.

Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky

Balcones

It’s a: Single Malt from Texas

The Balcones Texas Single Malt is proof that America can not only hang with the Scots, but it can surpass some of them. This beauty is floral and fragrant on the nose, but gets very busy on your palate. One sip and you’ll pick up notes of brown sugar and smooth, rich molasses, with a woody, warmed spice finish. It’s a simple but layered single malt, distilled at Balcones before being “yard-aged” in ex-bourbon oak casks.

Macallan Rare Cask

Macallan

It’s a: Single Malt Scotch from Speyside

We saved the best for last. That’s not hyperbole, either. The Macallan Rare Cask is liquid heaven and far and away one of the tastiest scotches you’ll ever enjoy. (At nearly $300 per bottle, it’ll also be among the priciest, but it’s worth every last cent.) This decadent treat has tasting notes that are anchored by a spicy quintet of ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, raisin and oak. That divine mix comes via batch of beautiful whiskey culled from 16 different casks. Less than 1 percent of Macallan’s casks maturing are deemed worthy of inclusion in this bottle. Should your glass ever be graced by Rare Cask, savor every last drop.

Want to try some of these whiskies in a cocktail? The folksat Meguhelped us craft some incredible ones.Watch the below:

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